Highway-lighting unit



March 29,1927.

. 1,622,272 R. B. BENJAMIN HIGHWAY LIGHTING UNIT Filed May 15, 1924 :s Sheets- -Sheet 1 I 1 2 72 March 29,1927. R. B. BENJAMIN ,6 2,2

I LHIGHWAY LIGHTI'NG UNIT Filed May 15.. 1924 s Sheets-Sheet z March. 9 7 R. B. BENJAMIN HIGHWAY LIGHTING UNIT Filed May 15, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,622,272 PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, DIE-CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 'OF ILLINOIS.

HIGHWAY-LIGHTING UNIT.

Application filed Kay 15, 1924. Serial lie. 713,417.

My im'ention units.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a highway lighting unit which will illuminate the roadway in both directions from the source of light for a substantial distance and which will effect a substantially uniform lighting of the roadway and which will distribute the light elliciently and Further objects will appear from the description and claims.

In the drawings, in which an embodiment of my invention is shown Figure 1 is a central transverse vertical section through the lighting unit on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

. Fig. 2 is an end view of the lighting un1t;

Fig. 3 is a medial section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the reflectors;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the reflectors;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the distribution of light rays in a medial plane; and

Fi 7 is a diagrammatic view showing tlhe light distribution in the plane 77 of Referring to the drawings in detail, the construction shown therein comprises the electric lamp 10, a socket 11 in which the lamp is inserted, a socket support 12 on which the socket is mounted, a set of reflectors for controlling the distribution of light, a pair of reflector supports 13 andv 14k, a bracket 15 on which the reflector supports and socket support are mounted, a wire relates to highway lighting guard 16 extending around the reflector for Y preventing injury to the lamp bulb, and a wire door or guard 17 underneath the lamp bulb 10 to permit insertion and removal of the bulb.

The reflector set comprises in eflect two pairs of concave reflector members, one pair 18 and 19 being located intermediate the members 20 and 21 of the other pair. The members of theouter pair are in the form of trough-like wings extending in substantially opposite directions from the light center, each of these trough-like wings having an open side and open ends and being of parabolic formation so as to cause the light rays incident thereon to be reflected substantially as a beam of light through the wings throw two beams of light in substantially opposite directions. This construction and reflection of the incident light rays surfaces of revolution generated by rotation of the parabolas referred to about their respective axes.

Each of the inner reflector members 18 and 19 is of such a formation and is so positioned that rays of light E incident thereon will be reflected as indicated by rays F through the inner open end'at 22 of that wing portion 20 or 21 which is farthest from it, and thence through the open side at 23 of said farthest wing portion, illuminating that portion of the roadway which lies between. the portions illuminated by the beams of lighti'eflected from the wing reflector pbrtions.

As shown in Fig. 7, the intermediate reflector members 18 and 19 are substantially parabolic in vertical section, so that the rays E incident thereon are reflected in planes parallel to the medial plane through all four of the reflector members asindicated by the reflected rays F. Also, as shown iii Fig. 7, the rays 18 reflected from the wing reflector members 20 and 21 are in planes substantially parallel to the medial plane through the four reflector members.

By this construction, a substantially um; form illumination of the roadway for a considerable distance is eflected. The light is divided substantially into five parts, as follows: The two beams reflected in 'substantially opposite directions from the wing-like reflector members 20 and 21, the two fields of light reflected from the two intermediate reflector members 18 and 19, which illuminates the roadway between the portions illuminated by the two beams of light, and

the direct unreflected rays of light from the lam which illuminate that part of the ma way between the arts which are illuminated by the rays reflected from the intermediate reflector members 18 and 19.

As shown in Fig. 1, the lighting unit may be mounted so that the wing reflector memfi v pen end thereof whereby the two here extend substantially'horizontally and so that the medial plane through the four reflector members is inclined (indicated sub stantially by the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.)

Referring now to details of construction,

5 the two wing portions of the reflector may be formed as parts of an integral pressed metal member which may be enameled to give a good reflecting surface. The socket 11 for the lamp bulb is mounted above the reflector members, and clearance space is provided as indicated at 24 between the intermediate reflector members 18 and 19 and the wing reflector members 20 and 21 for the neck of the lamp bulb. The intermediate reflector members 18' and 19 may be formed as parts of an integral pressed metal member which may be enameled if desired to give a reflecting surface or, if desired, may be a silver-plated copper sheet.

- The bracket 12 on which is mounted may be a sheet metal strap screwed onto the adjustable bracket 15 which also carries the reflector supports 13 and 14.

The supports 13- and 14 for the wing reflector members are in the form of U-shaped straps to which the flanges 25 of the reflector members are secured, the straps being secured to the adjustable bracket by meansof screws 26. i

The bracket 15 which carries the socket and reflector members has a ball and socket connection with the fixed bracket 27, this ball and socket joint comprising the concave portion 28 of the bracket 15, and the concave nut 29 which clampingly engage the apertured ball portion 30 of the bracket 27,

through which the clamping screw 31 extends.

The edges of the wing reflector members adjacent the intermediate reflector members are provided 'side the edges of the'intermediate reflector members as indicated at 32 in Figs. 3 and 4 to provide a weather proof construction. To further exclude rain and snow from the interior construction, a metal hood 33 is provided, which extends above the lamp socket and down over the junction of the intermediate reflector members with the wing reflector members as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

To remove or insert a lamp, the padlock 34 is unlocked and the wire guard 17 is swung downwardly about its hinge 35, after which the lamp can be removed or inserted through the opening controlled by the wire While I haveshown but one form of my invention, it is obvious it may be embodied in other forms'covered and defined by. the claims.

Having thus'described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the U. S. is

.1. A highsway lighting unit comprising the lamp socket with flanges which extend in meansfor supporting a source of light and reflector means for controlling the-light distribution, comprisingtwo pairs of concave reflector members, one pair being located intermediate the members'of the other pair, the outer pairof members being in the form of trough-like wings extending in substantially opposite directions from the light cen ter, each of said trough-like'wings having an open side and open ends, and having means for reflecting the light rays incident thereon as a beam through the outer open end thereof whereby the two wings throw two beams of light in substantially opposite directions, each of the intermediate reflector members having means for reflecting rays of light incident thereon through the inner open-end of that wing portion which is farthest from 2. A high-way lighting unit comprisingmeans for supporting a source of light and reflector means for controlling the light distribution, comprising two pairs of concave reflector members, one pair being located intermediate the members of the other pair, the outer pair of members being in the form of trough-like wings extending in substantially opposite directions from the light center, each of said trough-like wings having an open side and open ends, and having means to cause the light rays incident thereon to be reflected substantially as a beam through the outer open end thereof whereby the two wings throw two beams of light in substantially opposite directions, each of the intermediate reflector members having means to cause rays of light incident thereon to be reflected through that wing portion which is farthestfrom it. a

3. A high-way lighting unit comprising 1 means for supporting a source of light and reflector means forjcontrolling' the light distribution, comprising two pairs of concave reflector members, one pair being located intermediate the members of the other pair, the outer pair of members being in the form of trough-like wingsextending in substantially opposite directions from the light center, each of said trough-like wings hav-' ing an open side and open ends, and having means to cause the light rays incident there on to be reflected substantially as a beam through the outer open end thereof whereby the two wings throw two beams of light in substantially opposite directions, each of the intermediate reflector members having means to cause rays of light incident thereon to be reflected through the inner open end of that wing portion which is farthest from it and thence through the open side ofs'aid farthest wing portion to illuminate that portion of the hlghway which is not illuminated by said beams of light, the axes ofsaid'wing portions intersecting at an angle to the centribution, comprising two pairs of concavereflector members, one pair being located intermediate the members of the otherpair,

the outer pair of members being in the form of trough-like wings extending in substantially opposite directions from the light center, each of said trough-like wings having an open side and open ends, and having means to cause the light rays incident thereon to be reflected substantially as a beam through the outer open end thereof whereby the two wings throw two beams of light in substantially opposite directions, each of the intermediate reflector members having means to cause rays of light incident thereon to be reflected in planes parallel to or coinciding with the medial plane of the four reflector members through the inner open end of that wingportion which is farthest from it, and thence through the open 'side of said farthest wing portion to illumi ate that portion of the highway which is not illuminated by said beamsof light, the rays reflected from said intermediate reflector member lying substantially in planes parallel to or coinciding with the medial plane of the four reflector members.

5. A high-way lighting unit comprising means for supporting a source of light and reflector means for controlling the light distribution, comprising two pairs of concave reflector members, one pair being located mtermediate" the members of the other pair, the outer pair of members being n the form of trough-like wings extending 1n substantially opposite directions from the light center, each of said trough-like wings hav ng an open side and open ends, and having means to cause the light rays incident thereon to be reflected substantially as a beam through the outer open end thereof whereby the two wings th'row two beams of light in substantially opposite directions, each of the intermediate reflector members having means to cause rays of light incident thereon to be reflected through the inner open end of that wing portion which is farthest from it and thence through the open side of said farthest wing portion to illuminate that portion of the hlghway which is not illuminated by said beams .of light, said reflector means being mounted so that the wing reflector members extend substantially horizontally and so that the medial plane of the four reflector members is inclined.

6. A high-way lighting unit comprising means for-supporting a source of light and J reflector means for controlling the light distribution, comprising two pairs of concave reflector members, one pair being located intermediate the members of the other the outer pair of members being in the orm air,

of trough-like wings extending in substantially opposite directions from. the light center, each of said trough-like wings having an open side and open ends, and havingv means to cause the light rays incident thereon to be reflected substantially as a beam through the outer open end thereof whereby the two wings throw two beams of light in substantially opposite directions, eachof the intermediate reflector members having means to cause rays of light incident thereon to be reflected through the inner open end of that wing portion which is farthest from .it and thence through the open side ofsaid farthest wing portion to illuminate that portion of the highway which is not illuminated by said beams of light, said reflector means being mounted so that the wing reflector members extend substantially horizontally and so that the medial plane of the four reflector members is. inclined, said means for supporting the source of light comprising a lamp socket mounted above and adjacent said intermediate reflector member.

7 A highway lighting unit comprising means for supporting a source of light and reflector means for controlling the light dis-f tr1but10n,compr1s1ng two pans of concave reflector members, one pair being'located intermediate the members of the other pair, 1

'wing' portion which is farthest from it and thence through theopen side of said farthest wing portion to illuminate that portion of the highway which is -not illuminated by said beams of light, said reflector means being mounted so that the .wing reflector members extend substantially horizontally and so that the medial ,plane of the four reflector members is inclined, said means for supporting the source of light comprising a lamp socket mounted above and adjacent said in termediate reflector member, and an inverted dished housing enclosing said socket and overlying the junction between said intermediate reflector portions and said wing reflector portions.

8. A highway lighting unit comprising means for supporting a source of light and reflector means for controlling the light distribution, comprising two pairs of concave reflector members, one pair being lobated intermediate the members of the other pair,

the outer pair of members being in the form means to cause the light rays incident thereon to be reflected substantially as a beam through the outer open end thereofwhereby the two wings throw two beams of light in substantially opposite directions; each of the intermediate reflector members having means to cause rays of light incident thereon to be reflected through the inner open end of that wing portion which is farthest fromit and thence through the open side of said farthest wing portion to illuminate that portion of the highway which is not illuminated by said beams of light. said reflector means bcing mounted so that the wing reflector mem be'rs extend substantially horizontallv and so that the medial plane of the four reflector members is inclined. and means-for adjustiug said device to vary the inclination of said medial plane.

9. A highway lighting unit comprising me'ans'for supporting a source of light and reflector means for controlling the light distribution, comprising two pairs of concave reflector members, one pair being located intermediate'the members of the other pair. the outer pair of members being in the form open side and open ends. .and having means to cause the light rays incident thereon to be reflected substantially as a beam through the outer open end thereof whereby the two wings throw two beams of light in substantially opposite directions, each of theintermediat'e reflector members having means to cause rays of light incident thereon to be reflected through the inner open end of that wing portion which is farthest from it and thence through the open side of said farthest wing portion to illuminate that portion of the highway which is not illuminated by said beams of light. said reflector means being mounted so that the wing reflector members extend substantially horizontally and so that the medial plane of the four reflec tor members is inclined. said means for supporting the source of'light comprising a lamp socket mounted above and adjacent said intermediate reflector member. said reflector means having an opening underneath v the lamp 'to permit the insertion or removal of the lamp and the closure forsaid opening.-

In witness whereof. I have hereunto subscribed my name. I

I REUBEN B. I BENJAMIN. 

